MPCA warns of more air pollution alerts this year

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: May 1, 2008 - 11:04 AM

The air in Minnesota is cleaner than in many parts of the county as witnessed by a report out today by the American Lung Association listing cities with the dirtiest air.

But it might not seem that way as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says the Twin Cities and other parts of the state can expect to see more pollution alerts issued this summer.

It's not that our air is getting worse, but that new stricter air quality standards go into effect today. On March 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) significantly lowered the ozone standards to be more protective of human health. New more protective standards regarding fine particle pollution also go into effect this week, which has been designated as Air Quality Awareness week by the EPA.

"Every year more medical and scientific studies reveal greater health dangers at lower levels of pollution," said Rick Strassman, the MPCA's air monitoring supervisor. "This year there will be more alerts in Minnesota because the standards have been changed to be more protective."

Strassman said the air in Minnesota is cleaner today than it was 20 years ago.

Elevated levels of ozone can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and make breathing difficult. Fine particle pollution can cause similar problems, but also can trigger cardiovascular and heart problems for people with existing health issues.

The Lung Association's report looked at three measures -- ozone, short-term particle pollution, and year-round particle pollution.

Pittsburgh is the nation's sootiest city and Fargo and Salinas, Calif., are the cleanest, the report said. Duluth and the Rockford-Freeport-Rochelle area had the lowest limits of ozone; and Duluth had the lowest level of year-round particle pollution. No Minnesota cities made th most polluted list in the three categories, the report said.

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